With less than a month before the May 26 Republican primary runoff for Kendall County Judge, candidate Ricky Gleason is intensifying his outreach to voters, promoting a platform centered on strategic planning, property rights, and water conservation. Gleason, a lifelong Kendall County resident and financial advisor, advanced to the runoff after finishing first in a three-way Republican primary on March 3, earning 3,979 votes, or 40.94 percent, but falling short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff. Because no Democrat filed for the general election, the runoff winner will be the next Kendall County Judge.
Gleason’s campaign has focused on what he calls a “CEO mindset” for county government, drawing on his experience as a partner and financial advisor at Prime Capital Financial and co-founder of Forge Business Brokerage, where he advises local business owners on succession and exit planning. He also served two terms on the Boerne Planning and Zoning Commission. “In Texas, the County Judge is effectively the CEO of the county,” Gleason said. “That role calls for someone who builds consensus, manages a budget responsibly, plans for what is coming, and respects the people who pay the bills.”
Central to Gleason’s platform is a three-horizon planning framework designed to address Kendall County’s rapid growth, driven by the Texas Triangle and Interstate 10 corridor. The framework outlines priorities over three timeframes: operational fixes within 0-3 years, including immediate safety and mobility needs; capital alignment over 3-10 years, sequencing infrastructure investments where mobility and water intersect; and long-term stewardship beyond 10 years, focusing on protecting water resources, property rights, and the county’s rural character.
Water is the “single greatest long-term challenge,” Gleason said, advocating for proactive collaboration with neighboring Hill Country counties through the Priority Groundwater Management Area. He argues that water systems, flood risk, and transportation networks do not stop at county lines. He has also pledged to bolster volunteer fire departments and EMS teams, describing first responders as “the backbone of public safety in Kendall County.”
Gleason’s roots run deep in Kendall County: he grew up riding his horse to town, working at the county fairgrounds, and playing football for Boerne High School. He began his career as a bank teller before becoming a financial advisor and returning to his hometown to raise his family. He has served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club of Kendall County, the 100 Club of Kendall County, and Hope for Heroes.
The runoff election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, 2026, with early voting from May 18-22. Kendall County participates in the Countywide Polling Place Program, allowing any registered voter to cast a ballot at any open vote center. A candidate forum between Gleason and incumbent Shane Stolarczyk is set for May 8 at 6 p.m. at Comfort Lobby Coffee Shop. Voters can find polling locations and additional information through the Kendall County Elections Office. For more on Gleason’s campaign, visit www.rickygleason.com.
